Oak Creek man arrested after fight

A 39-year-old man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of assaulting a man in the Central Park Plaza parking lot.

Photo by Matt Stensland

Joseph L. Jernegan

Joseph L. Jernegan, of Oak Creek, was advised in court Thursday and his bond was set at $1,500. He is due back in court at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 21.

Steamboat Springs Police Department officers were dispatched to the parking lot at about 4:15 p.m. Wednesday after a woman called 911 and reported seeing a fight.

The 37-year-old victim, who lives in Oak Creek, told police he was punched several times in the face, knocked to the ground, kicked in the face with a boot and slammed into several cars. While quite bloody, Steamboat Police Sgt. Rich Brown said the victim’s injuries were not serious enough to pursue second-degree assault charges. Instead, Jernegan was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault. According to an affidavit filed in Routt County Court, Jernegan told police that the victim had assaulted his family member about a year and a half ago.